Jos Verstappen, father of Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, has raised concerns about the FIA’s selection of stewards during Formula 1 race weekends, suggesting it may lead to the perception of a conflict of interest. His remarks follow a challenging performance for Max at the recent Mexican Grand Prix, where he received two 10-second penalties. These penalties stemmed from two incidents with rival driver Lando Norris, culminating in Max finishing sixth—his worst result of the 2024 season.
During the race, Max Verstappen was penalized for two separate clashes with Norris. The first occurred on Lap 10 when Max forced Norris off the track at Turn 4 while Norris attempted to overtake. The second incident was a more aggressive maneuver from Verstappen at Turn 7, where both drivers ended up off the circuit. As a result, Max had to serve a 20-second penalty during his pit stop, ultimately affecting his standings and reducing his lead in the World Championship to 47 points, with only four races left in the season.
In an interview with Dutch publication *De Telegraaf*, Jos Verstappen expressed his belief that the FIA should reconsider the composition of their stewarding panels, implying that some stewards may have biases towards certain drivers or teams. He pointed out that Norris might now be more cautious in his battles with Max due to the recent penalties. Although he acknowledged that some of Max’s driving could be seen as excessive, he stressed that Max’s driving style would not change based on the opinions of the stewards.
Jos Verstappen’s comments appear to reference specific stewards from the Mexican Grand Prix, including former F1 driver Johnny Herbert and Tim Mayer, whose connections to McLaren might suggest potential biases. The stewards’ decisions have been scrutinized recently, particularly after McLaren’s unsuccessful appeal against a penalty given to Norris at the previous race in Austin, Texas, where he was penalized for an off-track pass on Verstappen.
The elder Verstappen has been critical of Red Bull’s recent performance, noting that Max hasn’t won a race since June and is concerned about the team’s overall pace. He emphasized that the car’s performance is Max’s primary worry as the championship races head towards their conclusion. Additionally, he proposed implementing gravel traps in critical areas of tracks to discourage drivers from using run-off zones during close racing, which he believes would enhance driving standards and safety.